Rapidly operable closure



May 24, 1955 D. B JONES 2,709,021

RAPIDLY OPERABLE CLOSURE Filed Dec. 3, 1949 2 She'ets-Sheet l I NVEN TOR.

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y 1955 Y D. B. JONES 2,709,021

RAPIDLY OPERABLE CLOSURE Filed Dec. 3, 19 9 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A IIIIII/IIIII.

nnnn u I N VEN TOR. L 00555400 fiumauays Jcwss RAPIDLY OPERABLE CLOSURE Durward Burroughs Jones, Bakersfield, Calif., assignor to The Superior Oil Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 3, 1949, Serial No. 131,026

9 Claims. (Cl. 220-245) This invention relates to means for sealing the end of an open ended hollow body and is particularly adaptable for sealing the ends of valve pots on slush pumps such as are used in oil well drilling operations.

The valve pots of slush pumps conventionally have closure plates secured with a large number of studs having threaded nuts which must be removed when the valve is serviced. The time required for removing and replacing such closure plates is considerable. This is particularly true in the case of slush pumps having a multiplicity of valve pots. When a valve begins to misfunction it is often impossible to determine which one needs attention and sometimes several must be uncapped and recapped in the process of finding the valve needing servicing.

While my invention is especially suited for valve pot sealing means, it can be used on pump cylinders, as a quickly detachable high pressure end seal for oil well cementing heads in lieu of the conventional screw type head and in other structures of a like nature.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a seal for the opening in a valve casing or cylinder which can be removed and replaced in an extremely short time and with a resulting decrease in cost, both from the standpoint of labor and interruption of operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a quickly removable seal combined with a valve guide which gives ready access to the working parts of the valve.

The above and other objects will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a slush pump with my device incorporated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an end view of a valve pot showing the seal returner in alternate positions in full and dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail through the end of a valve pot sealed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view in perspective of a form of seal and retaining means therefor;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a valve pot or pump cylinder wherein the conventional removable end plate is omitted;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the structure in Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrow 6;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of a modified form of pump cylinder construction;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of the structure of Fig. 7 in an assembled condition, and

Fig. 9 is a side view of a tapered seal retainer.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a slush pump 10 having pump cylinders 12 and valve pets 14. The pump is provided with generally horizontal support skids 16 in the usual manner. Other general features of the pump itself are not the subject-matter of the present invention and are therefore not disclosed since they are well known in the art.

Fig. 3 shows a valve pot 14 which includes a cylindrical wall portion 18 and a removable end ring 20 which is apertured to fit over studs 22 provided with securing United States Patent C) 2,709,021 Patented May 24, 1955 2 nuts 24. valve pot ring has a considerable number of studs 22 and nuts 24. customarily, it has been the practice to use a conventional head or disc in place of the ring 20 and when access to the interior of the valve pot was desired it was necessary to remove all of the nuts 24 before the end disc could be taken off. As stated above, it is not always possible to determine which of a number of valves is functioning improperly and it may be necessary to remove the heads or end caps of several valve pots before the defective valve is found. Obviously, the removal and replacement of a great number of nuts from the studs 22 is a time consuming and costly operation.

I have provided the end ring 20 in conjunction with my new structure so that the invention can be adapted to conventional valve pots which formerly were closed by the abovementioned end disc.

Within the cylinder 18 of the valve pot 14 is a pressure plate 26 to which is connected a central stud 28 which extends from the outer portion of the valve pot. Mounted on the stud 28 outside of the pressure member or plate 26 is a deformable seal 30 and against the outer side of the seal is positioned an abutment member or plate 32. The deformable seal 30 is preferably a chevron type packing ring commonly referred to as a pressure seal and is usually constructed of layers of canvas impregnated with rubber. It will be understood that the pressure plate and abutment plate can be constructed to receive and deform a seal of chevron construction. This embodiment is illustrated by pressure plate 85, chevron packing 88 and abutment plate 89 in Fig. 8. The discs 26 and 32 are slidable in the cylindrical valve casing 18 and it is preferred that they relatively closely fit the interior of the casing. It is apparent that the function of the pressure plate 26 together with the abutment plate 32 is to compress the deformable seal 30 into sealing contact with the surrounding cylindrical wall 18 and therefore the two plates and seal constitute what may be termed a sealing means or sealing unit.

A fork like retainer or seal retainer 34 is shown in Fig. 4 as being provided with a series of spaced tines 36 defining slots 38 and 40. The slots 38 and 40 are provided to receive certain of the studs 22 and the central slot 38 also receives the central stud 28.

The seal retainer 34 may be provided with an aperture 42 therethrough to receive a small locking pin 45 which extends through the ring 20 and holds the seal retainer 34 against accidental transverse displacement. Overlying the seal retainer 34 is a cover 44 which relatively closely fits within the ring 20 and is centrally apertured to permit the central stud 28 to pass therethrough. This disc 44 may conveniently be provided with bails 46 for .convenient handling.

The outer end of the stud 28 is threaded to receive a nut 48, which together with the stud constitutes releasable means for drawing the sealing unit towards the seal retainer 34 thereby to compress the sealing unit. Thus when the nut is turned down on the stud 28, it will cause the pressure plate 26 to press the deformable seal 30 between said pressure plate 26 and the abutment plate 32. The abutment plate 32. cannot move outwardly because of the seal retainer 34.

The inner side of the pressure plate 26 is provided with an internally threaded socket 50 which threadly receives a valve stem guide 52 as shown in Fig. 3. The guide 52 receives the upper end of a valve stem 54 as shown in Fig. l, the lower end of the stem 54 carries a valve head 56. A compression spring 58 is interposed between the valve head 56 and the valve stem guide 52 to normally hold the valve head 56 in a valve seat-60 which is formed in a valve pct 14.

When it is necessary to gain access to the interior of It will be noted in Figs. 1 and 2 that each one of the valve pots 14 the sealing structure can be quickly and easily removed. The seal retaining member 34 is driven out in a direction transversely of the valve pot cylinder 18 after the central seal deforming nut 48 has been loosened slightly. When the seal retainer 34 is slipped out of its normal position the entire seal assembly including the valve guide 52 can be pulled out of the end of the valve pot cylinder 18. Obviously the structure can be as readily replaced and the removal and replace ment are accomplished in a matter of seconds, Whereas removal and replacement of the above-mentioned conventional end discs requires to minutes for each valve pot.

A feature of the invention is that the combination shown in Fig. 4 together with the ring 20 may be sold as a unit or package for converting a conventional bolted closure into a quick operating closure. To install such a unit, the conventional solid disc, end plate, cap or head is discarded along with the associated sealing structure and the new ring 20 is bolted into place instead of the discarded member. Obviously, the cover 4-4 may be omitted because structurally or mechanically it serves merely as a washer for the nut 48.

The structure of Figs. 5 and 6 is one wherein no end ring 20 is used. These figures illustrate valve or pump cylinders 62 having apertures 64 therethrough adjacent their outer ends. These apertures are intended to receive seal retainer 66 which in this case need have only two tines since the cylinders are made without the plurality of studs such as at 22 in the preceding embodiment. Otherwise the seal construction and its methods of tightening and removal are the same.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the invention as applied to a pump cylinder. These disclose a cylinder 68 having end ring 70 mounted on a plurality of studs 72 and held by nuts 74 in the same manner as on the end of the valve pot described above. Within the cylinder 68 is a cylindrical liner member 82. A pair of deformable seals 76 is mounted on said liner member and separated by a ring 78. A sleeve member 80 is also mounted on said liner member 82. A spacer means in the form of a cage member 84 is provided to fit over liner member 82 and abut the end of sleeve 80.

A pressure plate 85 is provided with a flange 86 and three threaded apertures 83. Inwardly from the edge of theplate and about the flange lies a deformable sealing ring 88. This sealing ring as shown is of the chevron type and is constructed of layers of canvas impregnated with rubber. The ring bears against an abutment plate 89 having three apertures 92 in alignment with the threaded apertures in plate 85. The three bolts 94 thread through lock nuts ltltl, pass through cover plate 98, seal retainer 90, abutment plate 89 and thread through the three apertures 33 in pressure plate 85 and bear against the outer end of the cage 84. The seal retainer is similar to the retainer 34 in the first embodiment and lies between the end of the cylinder 68 and a ring 70 held by a plurality of studs 72 and nuts 74 in the same manner as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The cover disc 98 outside of the seal retainer 90 has three unthreaded apertures to permit passage of the bolts 94 through said cover disc. The bolts 94 are suitably headed at. their outer ends to receive a wrench.

When the bolts 94 are threaded inwardly, they bear against the cage 84 as mentioned above and cause the threaded pressure plate 85 to press the deformable packing ring 88 tightly against the wall of the cylinder 68. This deformation is produced since the abutment plate 39 is held against outward movement by the seal retainer 90. Obviously, the required force to compress and dcform the packing ring 88 may be provided in part or in whole by tightening the nuts 100.

The seal retainer 90 is inserted and removed transversely of the longitudinal bore of the cylinder 68 in the same manner as in the previously described embodiment with the resultant saving of time over the old method of removal of the entire end plate which was held by the studs 72.

Shown in Fig. 7 is the pump piston rod 102 and its piston 104 which are of conventional structure.

This arrangement permits quick and convenient replacement of the liner and yet provides a seal between the liner and the cylinder. Obviously, such a seal is necessary to prevent fluid from by-passing around the liner when the piston reciprocates. In this regard a feature of the combination shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is the dual function of the three bolts 94 in that they serve not only to place the deformable seal 88 under pressure but also serve to place the two seals 76 under pressure around the liner 82.

Thus the bolts 94, in tending to move the pressure plate 85 and the cage member axially apart, put both the seal 88 and the seals 76 under sealing pressure. The nuts may then be tightened to serve not only as lock nuts but also to place additional pressure on the seal 88. As a result the inner end portions of the three bolts 94 will act in longitudinal compression to provide sealing pressure for the seals 76 as well as the seal 88 and the intermediate portions of the three bolts will act in tension to place the seal 88 under additional pressure.

Fig. 9 shows a seal retainer which is shaped similarly to those shown in Figs. 4 and 7 except that it is provided with a slight taper so it can be wedged tightly in position and at the same time readily removed.

It will be seen that I have provided an end seal for an open ended cylindrical body which is particularly adaptable for slush pump valve pots and pump cylinders. The considerable pressures to which these pumps are subjected require that the end caps be securely fastened by the large number of studs shown in the drawing. However, my construction makes it possible to loosen and remove the end seal in an extremely short time. However, the saving of time does not in any way result in a structure which is lessened in strength and as a result a considerable advantage is achieved with no sacrifice to the overall strength of the construction.

It will be understood that various changes can be made in the form, detail, arrangements and proportions of the til various parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described for Withstanding fluid pressures, the combination of a cylindrical structure open at one end, said structure having openings at opposite sides thereof near said end, a retainer spanning said cylindrical structure and extending into said openings for connection with the cylindrical structure to resist fluid pressure, said retainer being retractable through said openings on one side of the cylindrical structure, an abutment member positioned inwardly from said retainer, a deformable seal on the inner side of said abutment member, a pressure member on the inner side of said seal, a sleeve inside said cylindrical structure, and at least one adjustable screw extending from the exterior of said cylindrical structure through said retainer, abutment member, seal and pressure member to hold said sleeve in position, said screw passing slidingly through the retainer, seal and abutment member with an intermediate portion of the screw in screw threaded engagement with said pressure member and with the inner end of the screw under longitudinal compression between said pressure member and said sleeve to urge said sleeve away from said pressure member and to urge said pressure member towards said seal to cooperate with said retainer to compress the seal.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which a spacer means is interposed between said sleeve and said screw.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes means in threaded engagement with the outer end portion of said adjustable screw to place the screw under tension between said retainer and said pressure member tainer being retractable through said openings on one side of the cylindrical structure, said retainer having an open medial portion, an abutment member positioned in said cylindrical structure inwardly from said retainer, deformable sealing means positioned in said cylindrical structure inwardly from said abutment member, a pressure plate positioned in said cylindrical structure inwardly from said sealing means, means including a screw threaded member normally extending under tension through said medial portion of the retainer and through said abutment memher and sealing member to said pressure plate to apply axially inward force to said retainer and to apply axially outward force to said pressure plate thereby axially compressing said sealing means for sealing contact with the inner wall of the cylindrical structure, and a cover member positioned axially outward from said retainer and normally spanning said open medial portion of the retainer in engagement with said screw means for operatively connecting the outer end of the screw means with the retainer.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said cover member is dimensioned to lie entirely within the cross sectional area of the inner circumference of said cylindrical structure.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said cover lies at least partially inside the open end of said cylindrical structure.

7. In a device of the character described for withstanding fluid pressures, the combination of a cylindrical structure open at one end, said structure having openings at opposite sides thereof near said end, a retainer spanning said cylindrical structure and extending into said openings for connection with the cylindrical structure to resist fluid pressure, said retainer being retractable through said openings on one side of the cylindrical structure, an abutment member positioned inwardly from said retainer, a first deformable seal on the inner side of said abutment member, a pressure member on the inner side of said seal, a cylindrical liner inside said cylindrical structure, a second deformable seal surrounding said liner, means including a sleeve surrounding said liner to confine said second seal, and at least one adjustable screw extending through said retainer, abutment member, first seal and pressure member, said screw being in threaded engagement with said pressure member and in pressure-transmitting relation to said sleeve to urge said sleeve towards said second seal for compression thereof to seal the space around said liner and to urge said pressure member toward said first seal to cooperate with said retainer to compress the first seal.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 7 which includes means in threaded engagement with the outer end portion of said adjustment screw to place the outer end portion of the adjustment screw under tension between said retainer and said pressure member for the application of additional pressure on said first seal.

9. In a rapidly operable closure arrangement of the character described for withstanding high fluid pressure,

7 the combination of a cylindrical structure open at one end,

a ring member of a diameter at least as large as the inside diameter of said cylindrical structure, a plurality of circumferentially spaced threaded elements extending from said ring member into the rim of the open end of said cylindrical structure to anchor said ring member to the cylindrical structure with a space between the ring memher and the surface of said rim, retainer means including a plurality of elements extending into said space transversely of the cylindrical structure and spanning said ring member in contact with the inner surface thereof, an abutment member positioned in said cylindrical structure inwardly from said retainer means, a deformable seal positioned in said cylindrical structure inwardly from said abutment member, a pressure plate positioned in said cylindrical structure inwardly from said deformable seal, said abutment member, deformable seal and pressure plate constituting sealing means capable of radial expansion into sealing contact with the surrounding cylindrical structure in response to axial compression, a cover member positioned axially outward from said retainer means, and releasable means in screw-threaded engagement with both said pressure plate and said cover member for interconnection thereof to compress said sealing means axially.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,099,158 Baker June 9, 1914 1,579,672 Strecker Apr. 6, 1926 1,818,439 Travis Aug. 11, 1931 1,903,168 Cordrey Mar. 28, 1933 2,016,223 Bowers Oct. 1, 1935 2,304,991 Foster Dec. 15, 1942 2,512,041 Steele June 20, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 677,132 Germany of 1939 

